CHINIOT - Litigants have been faced with a great ordeal as the lawyers’ strike being observed against the police “high-handedness” entered 5th consecutive day.

A meeting was held at sessions courts bar room which was chaired by District Bar Association President Yousuf Khiali. Addressing the participants, Ch Azhar Gujjar said it was Friday last when he and a police sub inspector, Umar Hayat, appeared before a judge in a case in which the police officer did not produce the oath taking document of a litigant party which was done earlier at police station.

After court hearing, the lawyer said he scolded the sub inspector for receiving bribe for not producing the document. An argument occurred between the two which was followed by a brawl. He accused the police officer of hurling abuses at him. The other lawyers intervened and the brawl ended. But after that, lawyer said, the police lodged an FIR against him and raided his house at night. Dozens of cops who had come on five police vehicles trespassed on his house and misbehaved with the family. Lawyers, on the occasion, resented the police high-handedness and demanded immediate withdrawal of false case against the lawyer. They also demanded suspension of the sub inspector on corruption charges.

It is to be noted that after the incident took place on Friday November 10, all the policemen on the court premises including bodyguards of judges disappeared to save themselves from the wrath of lawyers. Since then, a large number of lawyers voluntarily has been guarding gates of the sessions court to foil entry of any policemen in the court. Work at the court has come to a standstill since occurrence of the incident.

On the other hand, the city police station registered FIR on the complaint of Sub Inspector Umar Hayat. According to the FIR, Umar Hayat was standing in the sessions court when lawyer Azhar Gujjar with five unknown assailants hurled abuses at him and subjected him to physical torture. The case was registered under sections 353; 355; 186; 506; 147; 149 PPC.

When contacted, DPO Rana Tahir Khan told that a committee has been made comprising DSP Legal, President DBA and others to find out facts which caused the incident. If the case registered was found wrong, it would be quashed; otherwise it would be continued according to the law. The committee would also seek the possibility of reconciliation between both parties to end this deadlock.